It had not been a busy morning. Reliable contraception was starting to find its way into Poplar and births were fewer and if possible more anticipated. This new level of control on the parents' side meant less work for the midwives and the occasional morning off was starting to be routine.

On this particular morning the nurses had been mending the dining room curtains that had been there longer than the nuns themselves. The fabric was so delicate it was hardly worth mending but what with Nonnatos House being threatened with demolition they had all agreed they would save all the money they could for the possible future hardship. They had sat in silence and concentrated on the work to begin with but it was a lovely sunny day and the nurses were getting restless in the relatively dark kitchen. Nearing lunch they heard the doorbell ring and Sister Julienne emerged from her office to answer. They heard a couple of 'hello's and other comments appropriate to the time of day and saw the robust figure of Chummy wandered into the kitchen looking exhausted while Sister Julienne returned to her office.

"Chummy!" came delighted shouts from all around. The curtains were instantly forgotten. "Chummy, how are you?" "How's little Freddie?"

"Oh, he's an absolute beast. He never stops crying and he thinks testing my mothering abilities to the limit is the best occupation in the world."

"Oh dear, I'm sorry Chummy", Cynthia tried to display her most sympathetic face. "Although, testing your mothering abilities is what his life is all about now. He's only three weeks old, Chummy".

"I know. And I love him to bits, we both do, but no sleep and constant worry is starting to take its toll. You'd think that after delivering so many babies, I would know what to do with one but we always leave when the difficult bit starts! I have never had to look after a baby in my life and look at me now! Completely useless."

"I'm certain you are a wonderful mother, Chummy. All you need is a bit of practice and that is what you are experiencing now." Shelagh smiled tentatively.

"You're right, of course. I'm being silly. I think you and I should start a club."

"Oh?" Shelagh raised her eyebrows questioningly.

"Yes, the married women's club. We can share secrets of our married life".

Shelagh blushed and hid her face in her tea cup.

"Oh, Goodness, I'm so terribly sorry. I didn't mean those kind of secrets. Truly, the thought didn't

cross my mind. I meant advice on how to take care of babies or cooking. Gosh. I am so sorry."

"No need to apologise, Chummy." Shelagh tried to compose her features before continuing. "But I'm not yet married, let alone having a baby. I don't even know if that is at all a plausible outcome and even if it were to be, it's all sufficiently far in the future to be uncertain and potentially..." She stopped. The girls were all staring at her. Jenny was suppressing a giggle and Cynthia was avoiding meeting her eyes. Trixie's face, however, was positively shocked.

"Shelagh!" she cried. "Surely you are not telling me that you haven't discussed this with Dr Turner? Hasn't he said wether he wants another baby or not? Because it would make quite a big difference to your way of life if he didn't, you know? Although, having said that, you could always use contraception and it would make no difference at all."

"Thank you, Trixie, I am well aware of that. And no, we have not discussed babies, unless it is the ones we deliver. Now, if we could please change the subject I would be very much obliged."

"You won't get away that easily. You've been engaged for more than a month! And you're getting married soon. You must ask him! I insist!"

"I will do no such thing!" Shelagh looked pleadingly at the other nurses. She saw the excitement in their faces and realised Trixie was right. She wouldn't get away that easily. She sighed and made sure they all knew she was offended even though she was secretly amused by their attentiveness. She decided to pay along.

"Trixie, you forget you are speaking with someone who used to be a nun. The notion of... physical closeness is not included in our repertoire and is therefore very new to me. Dr Turner is aware of this and deals with it with much greater tact than any of you, I must say.

"What is it I deal with better than the nurses?" Dr Turner had just walked in. Silence, a few giggles and several scarlet faces met his question.